Active Retirement Association (ARA)
About the ARA
Seacoast residents can enjoy programs offered by the Active Retirement Association (ARA) an outreach of the University of New Hampshire. Daytime educational, cultural social and physical activities and four cultural day tours are offered.
The annual membership fee is $50 (non-refundable) and includes lecture series, discussion groups, interest sessions and health related activities for eight weeks fall 2009 and eight weeks in the spring of 2010. Each lecture series meets one time a week for four weeks.
For further information and to obtain registration form, contact Ben Getchell at (603)397-5046.
How to Contact the ARA
By mail: P.O. Box 421 Durham, N..H., 03824
Website: www.learn.unh.edu/ara
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Program Notes
MORNING PROGRAMS ARE SCHEDULED FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M. AND AFTERNOON PROGRAMS FROM 1:30 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M., UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Program registration forms are included with the mailing of this schedule. Directions to all ARA program sites, along with a program schedule summary, will be featured in the February Newsletter.
An asterisk following a speaker's name in the course listings indicates the person is a member of ARA and receives no remuneration..
Program Offerings, Spring 2010
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Monday, February 15, 1:30 p.m. Durham Evangelical Church, Durham |
General Meeting Program: The Peace Corps Yesterday and Today. Our speaker is Ed Dalton, New Hampshire Peace Corps representative, who will talk about Peace Corps history, share stories/happenings regarding the Peace Corps in foreign countries and show interviews with Peace Corps volunteers in their country of service. As a special treat, a recently returned Peace Corp volunteer will be present to share stories and answer questions. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Monday, May 3, |
Annual Meeting and Spring Luncheon Details and reservation forms will be mailed March 24. |
Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 19-February11, 7:30 to 8:15 A.M. Durham Parks and Recreation Center Activities Room 2 Dover Road, Durham |
Holiday Break Physical Fitness Leader: Jenn Merriam, Certified Aerobics Instructor. The instructor is volunteering her time. For additional information, contact Marie Conlon (603-868-5645). This is prior to Term CPlease remember to wear your membership badge to all ARA events. |
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Cultural Tours Four varied Cultural Tours are planned for the spring. Please mark your calendars now. They are: Wednesday, March 3, The New England Aquarium, Boston, MA which includes an IMAX Theater presentation with lunch at the Harborside Café located within the Aquarium, and an optional “behind-the scenes” tour; Sunday, March 28, Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”, 3 PM matinee, at The Hanover Theater, Worcester, MA, with brunch buffet at Maxwell Silverman’s, Worcester; Tuesday, April 27, “The Hall” museum at Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA, with lunch on your own at CBS Scene or restaurant of your choice; and Wednesday, May 19, Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA, lunch at Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury, MA, with a tour of the Inn’s historical site in the afternoon. On the way home, everyone will be in for a surprise stop! Detailed information for these tours will be mailed in early February for members to make their reservations. | |||||||||||||||||||
| TERM C - February 22 - March 19 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mondays 10:45 A.M. to 12:15 A.M. Franklin Pierce University 73 Corporate Drive Pease International Tradeport |
Great Decisions Great Decisions, published by the Foreign Policy Association, is a briefing book for a program of informal discussion groups on the various and changing relationships that foreign countries have with the U.S. In-depth essays by experts on each nation or crucial problem that our country must deal with, present information not available in most other news magazines. Group members have an opportunity to participate in a national opinion poll by filling out the forms at the end of each chapter, and at term’s end, by mailing them in the envelope provided in the briefing book. This program continues in Term D. The cost of the book, which covers Terms C and D, is $15.25. Be sure to confirm by Sunday, January 31, that you want to order a book, even if you signed up for the discussions at the end of Term B. Please call or e-mail Mary Roberge (see above information). Briefing books will be available for pick-up at the Feb. 15 General Meeting (exact cash or check please) or at the first discussion meeting, Feb. 22. A registration form is included with this program schedule.
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| Mondays P.M. Durham Community Church, Durham. |
A Single and a Three Part Series
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| Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 A.M to 8:15 A.M Durham Community Church, Durham NH |
Physical Fitness Jennifer E. Merriam, a Certified Aerobics Instructor, will lead this program designed to improve flexibility, endurance and vitality of participants. |
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| Wednesday A.M. Durham Community Church, Durham NH |
A Close-Up View of Different Cultures Meeting Common Needs: the Inuit and People of Tibet, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Working for change by taking practical steps in areas of poverty, education, health, human rights and gender disparities: Helga Spande will present DVDs she has produced to introduce the peoples and cultures of the Inuit and of Tibet. Speakers from Pakistan and Afghanistan will describe their life and work with Barakat, a nonprofit committed to assisting communities in effecting change to shape their own future.
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| Wednesday P.M. Durham Police Station, Durham NH |
Jailhouse Gang aka The Writing Group Aspiring writers share memoirs. Don’t be shy—put your pen to the paper and have a good time. |
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| Thursday A.M. The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
New Issues in Old Europe. This three part series will explore the dynamics of the European Union and how “Old Europe” member countries have been adapting to an enlarged EU since the end of the Cold War. We will begin with a historical overview, consider the changes to the institutional structures of the EU and explore implications for U. S. foreign policy, international security and international political economy.
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| Thursday P.M March 11 Only The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
ARA Focus Group: An Invitation from Your Board of Directors to ALL MEMBERS Please join us for refreshments and a pleasant afternoon of sharing and getting acquainted or re-reacquainted as the case may be. We want to know your questions (“What did you always want to know about the ARA but were afraid to ask?”), AND your ideas, concerns and suggestions. This is an opportunity for YOU to let us know your thoughts on policies, programs, budget, and facilities (did you know we pay nominal fees for some facilities and none for others?). And, this is an opportunity for the Board to answer your questions and share its concerns and challenges. The Board is made up of regular members who have agreed to take on some responsibilities for a term or two. We do it because we think the ARA is the best thing since sliced bread. There is great value to this type of enterprise. As an example: this fall one of our programs unexpectedly had no speaker. One of our attendees suggested we take the opportunity to introduce ourselves to each other and share some ideas re: ARA. Chit chat turned to brain storming, and a significant idea came out of that session. Baring any unforeseen obstacles, we expect to put that change in place starting in the Fall of 2010. Program leaders and further details for today’s program will be announced at the Feb. 15, General Meeting and in the February Newsletter. |
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| Friday, A.M. 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. Durham Recreation Center Activity Room 2 Dover Road, Durham. |
Fit and Fall Proof Use a stability ball (your own) to increase core strength, flexibility, balance, mobility and eye-hand coordination, with the goal of preventing falls. Class is limited to ten participants. Program led by Pamela Faltin, Fitness Trainer with Stability Ball Certification, AFPA. The enclosed Registration Form should be mailed in by January 26. |
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| Friday, P.M. The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
Watercolor Workshop This is a self-directed workshop for the experienced watercolorist and the neophyte. The main criterion is interest. Bring your paints, brushes, paper and a photo of something you’d like to paint. Doris Rice, noted local artist, will be advising for the first session on February 26. |
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| Term D - March 29 - April 23 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, A.M. 10:45 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. Franklin Pierce University 73 Corporate Drive Pease International Tradeport |
Great Decisions Continuation of program from Term C, using the Great Decisions briefing book.
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| Monday, P.M. The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
Aspects of Local History: “Ya Gotta Love It!” Local historians share their passions.
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| Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 A.M. to 8:15 A.M. Durham Community Church, Durham |
Physical Fitness Continuation of program from Term C. |
Tuesday P.M. Durham Police Station, Durham |
The Jailhouse Gang aks The Writing Group Continuation of program from Term C. |
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| Wednesday A.M. The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
Gardening! Gardening! Gardening!
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| Wednesday P.M. Durham Police Station, Durham |
Play Reading Let’s read plays together. It’s informal, it’s unrehearsed, and it’s FUN!
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| Thursday A.M. Durham Community Church, Durham |
Persistent National & International Issues
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| Thursday, 1:30 P.M. Departure Meet at Durham Evangelical Church parking lot to car pool to our destination. |
For cancellations or changes, check your e-mail or call. Contact Ben to get on the walkers’ e-mail list. These coded descriptions may be helpful: Route: T-trail, A-abandoned road, G-graded dirt road, P-paved road; Footing: S-smooth, M-moderately uneven, R-rough; Terrain: L-level, I-moderate incline, St-steep.
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| Friday 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Durham Community Church, Durham |
At The Bijou: Films from Overseas
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| Friday P.M. The Inn at Spruce Wood, Durham |
Watercolor Workshop Continuation of program from Term C. Doris Rice is scheduled for the second session on April 9. |
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Membership
Membership in the Association is open to individuals who reside in the area. Total retirement is not necessary for enrollment, as many members still hold full- or part-time positions. Currently the ARA has over 300 members representing 34 towns in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Membership dues of $50 are for the year which runs from July 1, 2009 to June 20, 2010. Individuals may join at any time, but there is no reduction for a partial-year membership.
Click here for a membership form
Additional information about the ARA may be obtained by reading further on this site or:
By Mail: P.O. Box 421, Durham, NH 03824-0421
Ben Getchell By Phone: 603-397-5046
First Week Free
To make more potential members aware of the ARA and its wide variety of interesting programs, a "first-week-free"
policy applies in September at the beginning of the fall offerings, and again in March at the start of the spring semester.
Members are encouraged to bring friends, and other non-members are also welcome to attend and participate.
Guest Policy
Members may bring guests at times other than the “first weeks free” opportunities for a fee of $2 per guest. However, local guests may attend only one program session in each term. Guest fees should be paid to the ARA member in charge of the program.
UNH Library Privileges
Members of ARA can take advantage of the University of New Hampshire libraries, which house more than a million books, periodicals, and recordings. The main library, Dimond Library, is located on the UNH campus just behind Thompson Hall. To receive a library card which will be valid throughout the current membership year, show your current ARA membership badge at the Main Desk.
Weather Cancellations
Program sessions will be cancelled if the Oyster River School District cancels school. Members should listen either to radio station WTSN, 1270 AM, Dover; WHEB, 750 AM, 100.3 FM, Portsmouth; or WMYF, 1380 AM, Portsmouth; or turn to WMUR Channel 9 for school cancellation announcements.
Program Disclaimer
The Active Retirement Association seeks to provide programs that are intellectually stimulating and create opportunities
for members to broaden their scope of interests. Programs of a controversial nature may be presented on occasion, but ARA
does not endorse the viewpoints or opinions of its lecturers, nor does use of a facility constitute ARA endorsement of the
beliefs or policies of that facility. ARA is not affiliated with any political, religious, ethnic, or special interest group.
Check This Out!
For information on other organizations and programs which might be of interest to you, check out the UNH Continuing Education Home Page
Directions to ARA Program Sites
The Durham Evangelical Church and the Durham Police Station are on Route 108 between Durham and Dover. Please use the lower parking lot at the church.
St. George's Episcopal Church and the Community Church of Durham are on Main Street, Durham, between the traffic light on Route 108 and the downtown area. Parking is available in the back of St. George's and across the street at the Community Church. Use the lower parking lot at the Community Church for access to the Activity Room.
The Dover Indoor Pool, which is on that part of Washington Street that begins the loop around the Cocheco Mills off Central Avenue, is part of the Henry Law Park complex. From the south take Central Avenue (Route 108) to the light at Washington Street and then a very hard right onto Henry Law Avenue to the first left into the parking lot area alongside the Cocheco River. The pool entrance is visible. From the north take Central Avenue (Route 108) through downtown Dover to Washington Street, bearing slightly to your left at the intersection. At the light go through onto Henry Law Avenue and into the parking lot as noted above.
The Inn at Spruce Wood is on Worthen Road off Mill Road in Durham. Follow the directions to St. George's Episcopal Church. Go past the Church, bear right at the Post Office, and almost immediately onto Pettee Brook Lane. At the end you will see UNH buildings. Turn left onto Main Street and take your first right onto Mill Road. Follow it for approximately two miles and Worthen Road will be on your right. Follow Worthen Road until it ends.
Southern New Hampshire University, Seacoast: Pease International Tradeport, 231 Corporate Drive, Suite 100, Portsmouth, N.H. 03801
Durham Police Station: Route 108, Durham, N.H.